Dry cleaning apparatus



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o 0 o o INVENTOR. JOHN B HAN W Hm QRNEY 4 2 $4 a 4\ O 8 3 3 Z 9 m 1 F. g 3 A 4 o z 88 4 B 8 3 n M Z 7, 4 8 l1 4 9 MN 2 2 S 3 & ma 5 5 A. Z /l m Nov. 16, 1965 United States fatent G f 3,217,518 DRY CLEANING APPARATUS John Boehan, Louisville, Ky., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Filed Feb. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 344,642 4 Claims. '(Cl. 68--4) This invention relates to an improved dry cleaning apparatus and, more particularly, to such an apparatus for use with a washing machine.

An object of this invention is to provide an improved dry cleaning apparatus for use with washing machines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a small dry cleaning apparatus suitable for home use.

In carrying out this invention, in one form thereof, a housing is provided having a first compartment for receiving fabrics to be cleaned and a second compartment for storing dry cleaning fluid. A circulation system is provided for transferring cleaning fluid between the cleaning compartment and the storage compartment. In normal operation the housing is inserted about the top of the agitator of a vertical axis washing machine to oscillate and rotate therewith in order to clean fabrics received in the cleaning compartment and then centrifuge the fluid from the fabrics and transfer it to the storage compartment. The housing is removable from the agitator for storage and for inversion in order to transfer fluid from the storage compartment to the cleaning compartment.

The features of this invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to organization and method of operation together with further objects and advantages thereof, may be best understood by reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

In the drawing, FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view, partly in cross-section and partly broken away to show details, of a washing machine incorporating one embodiment of this invention; and

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional side elevational view of a portion of my inventive structure.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown an agitator-type clothes washing machine 1 having a conventional clothes-receiving basket 2 provided over its side and bottom walls with perforations 3 and rotatably disposed within an outer imperforate tub or casing 4. The tub 4 serves as a liquid receptacle, the basket and tub together in effect serving as a container for clothes and the liquid in which they are to be washed and rinsed during a normal clothes washing operation. Tub 4 is rigidly mounted within an appearance cabinet 5. An opening 6 is provided in the top portion 7 of the cabinet. The opening is closed by a cover 8 hingedly mounted on the top portion 7. The opening 8 is in alignment with an opening 2a in the top of the basket 2 to facilitate insertion and removal of clothes from the basket 2.

At the center of the basket 2 there is positioned an agitator 9 mounted for rotation and oscillation about a vertical axis. The agitator includes a center post 10 and a plurality of curved water-circulating vanes 11 joined at their lower end by an outwardly flared skirt 12. The top 13 of the agitator extends above the maximum water level which can be reached in tub 4 and basket 2, the water level being controlled in a conventional manner. During a typical cycle of operation of the machine, water is introduced into the tub 4 and basket 2 to the desired level. The agitator 9 is then oscillated back and forth about its axis to effect washing of the clothes by causing relative motion of the clothes and liquid as well as a suitable flexing of the fabric of the clothes. Then, after a predeter- 3,217,518 Patented Nov. 16, 1965 mined period of washing action, basket 2 and agitator 9 are rotated together at high speed to centrifugally extract the washing liquid from the clothes and discharge it to a drain. Following this extraction operation clean water is introduced into the basket 2 for rinsing the clothes and the agitator is again oscillated. Finally the basket is once more rotated at a high speed to extract the rinse water.

Basket 2 and agitator 9 may be driven by any suitable means. By way of example, they have been shown as driven by a reversible motor 14, shown in. the lower portion of FIGURE 1 through a system including a clutch 15 mounted on the motor shaft. The clutch is so constructed that the motor may accelerate the basket and agitator to spin speed without stalling. A suitable belt 16 transmits power from clutch 15 to a transmission 17 through a pulley 18. The pulley 18 drives transmission 17 in either direction depending upon the direction of rotation of motor 14. The transmission 17 is so arranged that it supports and drives both the agitator drive shaft and the basket 2. When the motor 14 is rotated in one direction the transmission causes the agitator 9 to oscillate in a substantially horizontal plane within basket 2. Conversely, when the motor 14 is driven in the opposite direction, the transmission rotates clothes basket 2 and agitator 9 together at high speed for a centrifugal liquid extraction. It will be recognized that there are many well-known mechanisms for effecting the type of motion described hereabove.

In addition to operating transmission 17 as described, motor 14 also provides a direct drive through a flexible coupling 20 to a pump structure generally indicated at 21, which may include two separate pump units 22 and 23. The pump units are formed so that in the spin or centrifugal extraction direction of motor rotation pump 22 withdraws liquid from the tub 4 and discharges it to a drain (not shown); in the other, or oscillation, direction of rotation pump 23 functions to recirculate the liquid contained within the tub 4 in order to direct it through a filter (not shown) normally removably mounted on the top 13 of the agitator 9. Each of the pumps is substantially ineffective in the direction of rotation in which it is not used.

A control panel 24, which may also be referred to as a backsplash, ha mounted thereon a manually-operated member 25. Member 25 is used to control various functions of the machine.

In accordance with one embodiment of this invention, a dry cleaning apparatus 26 is mounted about the top 13 of the agitator 9 and fits within the opening 2a of the basket 2. The dry cleaning apparatus 26 includes a housing 27 forming an inner or clothes-cleaning compartment 28 and an outer or cleaning fluid storage compartment 29. The cleaning compartment and the storage compartment are connected by means of a passage 30. A plurality of oneway or check valves (one of which is shown at 31) are provided between the storage compartment 29 and the passage 30 to control transfer of cleaning fluid from the cleaning compartment to the storage compartment. Another plurality of one-way or check valves (one of which is shown at 32) are provided between the storage compartment 29 and passage 30 to control transfer of cleaning fluid from the storage compartment 29 to the cleaning compartment 28. A filter, such as that shown at 33, is provided adjacent the storage compartment 29 and each of the check valves 32 to rehabilitate the cleaning fluid by removing dirt, lint, and other impurities from the fluid as it is transferred from the storage compartment 29 to the cleaning compartment 28.

A manually operated valve 34, including a valve passage 34a connecting passage 30 and cleaning compartment 28, [a valve element 35 and a manually rotatable operating member 36, is provided between the passage 30 and the cleaning compartment 28. By rotating member 36, valve element may selectively be caused to open and close valve passage 34a. Thus valve 34 may be caused to block communication between the cleaning compartment and the storage compartment during periods of non-use so that the cleaning fluid in the storage compartment will not be lost through evaporation. It will be obvious that, if faster fluid flow between the cleaning and storage compartments is desired, a plurality of manually operable valves such as valve 34 may be utilized.

The housing also includes a hollow central post 37 which fits about the central post 10 of the agitator and extends upwardly into the cleaning compartment 28. The top of the post 37 is provided with a threaded stud 38 which receives a threaded wing nut 39 for securing a cover 40 to close an opening 41 provided in the top of the housing 27. In use the wing nut is tightened sufficiently on the stud 38 to secure the cover 40 in an airtight relationship against the housing 27. The housing 27 also includes a plurality of hollow vanes 42 provided around the circumference of the central post 37 and extending outwardly into the cleaning compartment and storage compartment. The hollow vanes 42 are so formed and so disposed that they fit snugly about the curved vanes 11 of the agitator and thereby operatively connect the dry cleaning apparatus 26 to the agitator 9 so that the dry cleaning apparatus oscillates and rotates with the agitator. Additionally, the portions of the vanes 42 which are within the cleaning compartment 28 operate in conjunction with a plurality of vertical vanes 43, spaced around the outer wall of the cleaning compartment 28, to agitate the fluid and fabrics in compartment 28 during oscillation of the dry cleaning apparatus.

Referring now particularly to FIGURE 2, in conjunction with FIGURE 1, in order to facilitate replacement of the filter 33 and the vitiated cleaning fluid the housing 27 is formed with an upper portion 44 and a lower portion 45. The lower portion 45 is formed to include the hollow central post 37 and the storage compartment 29 having an access opening 29a at the top thereof. The upper portion 44 is formed to include the passage 39 and provides a closure member for the access opening 29a of stonage compartment 29. Additionally, both the up- .per and lower portions are recessed so that they cooperate to enclose the filter 33. The portions are joined along mating surfaces 46 and 47, respectively, which are provided with mating grooves or recesses 48 and 49, and 50 and 51 to receive gaskets 52 and 53. In order to securely connect the portions 44 and 45 they are formed with flanges 54 and 55 having mating openings 56 and 57 respect-ively. The openings 57 are threaded to receive bolts 58 inserted through the openings 56. The bolts are tightened until the surfaces 44 and 45 are brought securely together to form an air-tight se'al.

When it is desired to change the filter 33 and/ or the cleaning fluid, the bolts 58 are removed and top portion 44 is lifted from bottom portion 45. This exposes the filter so that the user can remove the old one and insert a new one and opens the storage compartment 29 so that the user can empty the vitiated fluid and refill the storage compartment with new fluid. Then the upper portion is replaced on the lower portion 45 and the bolts 58 are re-inserted in the openings 56 and 57 and tightened until an air-tight seal is formed between the surfaces 46 and 47.

Normally the dry cleaning apparatus is stored outside the washing machine and a filter, such as that disclosed in Patent 2,481,979, issued to Russell H. Colley on September 13, 1949, and assigned to the General Electric Company, owner of the present invention, is inserted about the top 13 of the agitator 9 so that the washing machine 1 may function in a normal manner for washing clothes. When it is desired to dry clean fabrics, the filter is removed from the top of the agitator 9. The wing nut 39 is unscrewed and the top 46 is removed from the housing and fabrics are placed within the cleaning compartment 28, the cover 40 and wing nut 39 then being replaced. The valve 34 is opened and the dry cleaning lapparatus 25 is inverted from its normal use and storage orientation (shown in FIGURE 1) in order for cleaning fluid to be transferred from the storage compartment 29 to the cleaning compartment 28 through the filter 33, the check valves 32, and the passage 30. The dry cleaning apparatus 26 is then returned to its usual orientation and inserted about the top 13 of the agitator 9 with the hollow vanes 42 in register with the curved vanes 11 of the agitator. The manually-operated member 25 is then set so that the motor 14 drives the agitator 9 and basket 2 through a single cycle of operation, including a period of oscillation followed by a spin period, without water being introduced to the basket 2 and tub 4.

During the oscillation period of operation the dry cleaning apparatus oscillates about its vertical axis in conjunction with the agitator. Vanes 42 and 43 agitate the fluid and fabrics within the cleaning compartment 28 to clean the fabrics. At the end of the oscillation period the agitator and "basket 2 rotate together and the dry cleaning apparatus rotates with them in order to centrifug ally extract the cleaning fluid from the fabrics in the cleaning compartment Z8 and return it to the storage compartment 29 through the passage 30 and check valves 31. At the end of the spin period of operation the valve 34 is closed and the cover 40 is removed so that the fabrics may be taken from the cleaning compartment 28. Then the cover 46 is replaced in the opening 41 and the dry cleaning apparatus is removed from the washing machine. At this time the filter may be replaced about the top of the agitator and the washing machine used for normal 'wa-shing operations.

While in accordance with the patent statutes the preferred embodiment of this invention has been described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the invention and, therefore, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. For use with a Washing machine including a clothes receptacle having an agitator extending upwardly therein, a dry cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing mountable on the upper end of said agitator,

(b) said housing including a first compartment for receiving fabrics to be cleaned,

(c) said housing further including a second compart ment for storing cleaning fluid,

((1) means defining a fluid-conducting passage connecting said first compartment and said second compartment,

(e) a first check valve for controlling transfer of fluid from said first compartment to said second compartment through said passage,

(f) a second check valve for controlling transfer of fluid from said second compartment to said first compartment through said passage, and

(g) said housing further including a filter so mounted with respect to said passage that said check valves cause the fluid to flow through said filter during transfer of fluid between said compartments in a first direction while preventing fluid flow through said filter during transfer of fluid between said compartments in a second direction.

2. A dry cleaning apparatus as described in claim 1 wherein said housing includes a third, manually operable valve for blocking communication between said compartments through said passage independently of said check valves, whereby evaporation of fluid in said second compartment is prevented during periods of non-use.

3. For use with a vertical axis washing machine including a clothes receptacle having an agitator extending upwardly therein, a dry cleaning apparatus comprising:

(a) a housing mountable on the top of said agitator,

(b) said housing including a first compartment in the upper portion thereof for receiving fabrics to be cleaned,

(1) said first compartment having an access opening and "a removable cover for closing said access opening with an airtight seal,

(c) said housing further including an enclosed second compartment in the lower portion thereof for storing cleaning fluid,

(d) means defining la fluid-conducting passage connecting said first compartment and said second com- .partment,

(e) said housing being adapted to oscillate with said agitator for effecting cleaning of fabrics in said first compartment,

(f) said first compartment being provided with vanes to agitate the fluid and fabrics therein when said housing oscillates,

(g) said housing further being adapted to rotate with said agitator for centrifuging fluid from the fabrics and transferring it to said second compartment through said passage,

(h) a first check valve for controlling transfer of fluid from said first compartment to said second compartment when said housing rotates,

(i) said housing being removable from said agitator for inversion to cause fluid transfer from said second compartment to said first compartment through said passage,

(j) a second check valve for controlling transfer of fluid fro-m said second compartment to said firs-t eompartment when said housing is inverted,

(k) a filter positioned between said second compartment and said second check valve so that the fluid will flow through said filter during fluid transfer from said second compartment to said first compartment to rehabilitate the fluid while fluid flow through said filter is prevented during fluid transfer from said first compartment to said second compartment,

(1) a third, manually operable valve for blocking communication between said first compartment independently of said check valves and said second compartment to prevent loss of fluid by evaporation during periods of non-use.

4. For use with a vertical axis washing machine including a clothes receptacle having an agitator extending up- Wardly therein, a dry cleaning apparatus comprising:

,(a) a housing mountable on the top of said agitator,

(b) said housing formed with separable upper and lower portions,

(1,) removable means :for securing said upper portion of said housing to said lower portion of said housing in an air-tight relationship,

(c) said housing including a first compartment for receiving fabrics to be cleaned,

(1) said first compartment having an access opening and a removable cover for closing said access opening with an airtight seal,

(d) an enclosed second compartment formed in said lower portion of said housing for storing cleaning fluid and having an opening for access thereto,

(1) said upper portion of said housing forming a closure member for said access opening in said second compartment,

(e) a fluid-conducting passage formed in said upper portion of said housing and connecting said first compartment and said second compartment,

(f) said housing being arranged to oscillate with said agitator for effecting cleaning of fabrics in said first compartment,

(g) said first compartment being provided with vanes to agitate the fluid and fabrics therein when said housing oscillates,

(h) said housing further being arranged to rotate with said agitator for centrifuging fluid from the fabrics and transferring it to said second compartment through said passage,

(i) a first check valve controlling transfer of fluid from said first compartment to said second compartment when said housing rotates,

(3') said housing being removable from said agitator for inversion to cause fluid transfer from said second compartment to said first compartment through said passage,

(k) a second check valve for controlling transfer of fluid from said second compartment to said first compartment when said housing is inverted,

(l) a filter positioned within said housing between said compartments to rehabilitate the fluid,

(1) said upper portion of said housing and said lower portion of said housing each enclosing a portion of said filter,

(2) a third valve for blocking communication between said first oompartment and said second compartment to prevent loss of fluid by evaporation during periods of non-use,

(rn) said upper portion of said housing being removable from said lower portion of said housing to expose said filter and open said second compartment so that said filter and the fluid stored in said second compartment may be replaced.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,035,876 8/ 1912 Henning 68-21'3 1,387,776 8/ 1921 Henning 68---2 13 1,910,900 5/1933 Johnson 68-2 13 3,029,623 4/ 1962 Jacobs 68--4 3,183,689 5/1965 Jacobs 68-4 X IRVING BUNEVIOH, Primary Examiner. 

1. FOR USE WITH A WASHING MACHINE INCLUDING A CLOTHES RECEPTACLE HAVING AN AGITATOR EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREIN, A DRY CLEANING APPARATUS COMPRISING: (A) A HOUSING MOUNTABLE ON THE UPPER END OF SAID AGITATOR, (B) SAID HOUSING INCLUDING A FIRST COMPARTMENT FOR RECEIVING FABRICS TO BE CLEANED, (C) SAID HOUSING FURTHER INCLUDING A SECOND COMPARTMENT FOR STORING CLEANING FLUID, (D) MEANS DEFINING A FLUID-CONDUCTING PASSAGE CONNECTING SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT AND SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT, (E) A FIRST CHECK VALVE FOR CONTROLLING TRANSFER OF FLUID FROM SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT TO SAID SECOND COMPARTMENT THROUGH SAID PASSAGE, (F) A SECOND CHECK VALVE FOR CONTROLLING TRANSFER OF FLUID FROM SAID SECOND COMPARTME T TO SAID FIRST COMPARTMENT THROUGH SAID PASSAGE, AND (G) SAID HOUSING FURTHER INCLUDING A FILTER SO MOUNTED WITH RESPECT TO SAID PASSAGE THAT SAID CHECK VALVES CAUSE THE FLUID TO FLOW THROUGH SAID FILTER DURING TRANSFER OF FLUID BETWEEN SAID COMPARTMENTS IN A FIRST DIRECTION WHILE PERVENTING FLUID FLOW THROUGH SAID FILTER DURING TRANSFER OF FLUID BETWEEN SAID COMPARTMENTS IN A SECOND DIRECTION. 